SOLEDAD: I’M SOLEDAD O’BRIEN. WELCOME TO "MATTER OF FACT." THE CORONAVIRUS IS BREAKING PARTS OF THE NATION’S FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN. MEAT PROCESSING PLANTS AROUND THE COUNTRY HAVE SHUT DOWN AS WORKERS CONTRACT COVID-19. OTHER FOOD PROCESSORS ARE CUTTING BACK BECAUSE LARGE BUYERS, LIKE SCHOOLS AND RESTAURANTS, ARE CLOSE SOME FARMERS ARE NOW FORCED TO DUMP MILK, DESTROY CROPS, AND SLAUGHTER THEIR ANIMALS, WHILE WE SEE PEOPLE TURNING TO OVERWHELMED FOOD BANKS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. OUR CORRESPONDENT JESSICA GOMEZ HAS MORE. JESSICA: WELL, SOLEDAD, THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE IS STILL WORKING OUT DETAILS OF ITS CORONAVIRUS FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. IT INCLUDES $16 BILLION IN DIRECT PAYMENTS TO FARMERS; ANOTHER $3 BILLON WILL BE USED TO GET FOOD FROM THE FARMS T FOOD BANKS AND OTHER NONPROFITS. WHILE THE USDA ACKNOWLEDGES IT WON’T NEARLY BE ENOUGH, FOR ALREADY CASH-STRAPPED FARMERS, THE HELP CAN’T COME SOON ENOUGH. ROBB: SPRING WOULD NORMALLY FEEL LIKE A TIME OF EXCITEMENT, ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES. JESSICA: PLANTING SEASON UNDERWAY AT THE EWOLDT CORN AND SOYBEAN FARM, JUST WEST OF DAVENPORT, IOWA. THIS YEAR, THOUGH, WITH THE DUST FROM THE TRACTORS COMES AN AIR OF UNCERTAINTY. ROBB: THIS YEAR EVERY TIME I GO OUT AND MAKE A PASS ACROSS THE FIELD, I WONDER HOW MUCH I AM GOING TO LOSE. JESSICA: THE PRICE OF CORN AND SOYBEANS, NOW DOWN ABOUT 20%, THIS AFTER TWO STRAIGHT YEARS OF LOSSES FOR THE EWOLDT FAMILY, THE RESULT OF THE TRADE WAR WITH CHINA. ROBB: I TOOK A TRUCK DRIVING JOB AT NIGHT ABOUT A YEAR AGO BECAUSE IF I WAS UP AT NIGHT WORRYING ABOUT HOW TO PAY THE BILLS, I MIGHT AS WELL PAY THE BILLS. JESSICA: BUT THAT JOB, NOW SLOWING DOWN AS WELL, SOME OF THE HOGS HE HAULS, LIKE THE ONES HE’S RAISING, GO TO PLANTS THAT ARE SHUTTING DOWN, WORKERS GETTING SICK WITH THE CORONAVIRUS. ROBB: AND IF WE DON’T HAVE A PLACE TO MARKET THEM AND TO HARVEST THAT PORK, THE FARMER REALLY, REALLY TAKES A FINANCIAL HIT. JESSICA: AMERICA’S FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN STRUGGLING TO STAY ON TRACK. COOLERS ARE PACKED FULL OF CHEESE AT THE CEDAR GROVE CHEESE PLANT IN PLAIN, WISCONSIN. THE COMPANY, SWITCHING GEARS, NOW PACKAGING MOST OF ITS CHEESE FOR GROCERY STORES. THEIR RESTAURANT BUSINESS, NEXT TO NOTHING. BOB: THAT HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN THE MARKET, THE WHOLE MARKET HAS HAD TO PIVOT. JESSICA: OWNER BOB WILLS AND HIS SON, TODAY, THE ONLY ONES AT THEIR MILWAUKEE PLANT, THIS PROCESSING FACILITY, SHUT DOWN. 95% OF THE CHEESE MADE HERE, SOLD TO MIDWEST RESTAURANTS. THE COMPANY BUYS ABOUT 10,000 POUNDS OF MILK A DAY FROM LOCAL FARMERS. NOW, THE TANKS ARE EMPTY AND A MAJORITY OF EMPLOYEES LAID OFF. BOB: AND YET I HAVE A PRODUCTION FACILITY WHERE I COULD BE TAKING THAT MILK AND TURNING IT INTO CHEESE, BUT SOMEBODY HAS TO BE IN A POSITION TO BUY IT. >> THE ELECTED HAVE -- THEY LIKE TO HAVE THEIR EARS BENT. JESSICA: LESS THAN AN HOUR SOUTH, DAIRY FARMER DAVE DANIELS, HIS MILK TURNED INTO FRESH ITALIAN CHEESE SOLD MOSTLY TO RESTAURANTS. HIS PROCESSORS, ASKING HIM TO CUT PRODUCTION. DAVE: THEY ASKED US TO REDUCE PRODUCTION BY 20%. THAT’S A TOUGH THING TO DO. WE CAN’T JUST TURN THE COW OFF, SHE’S BEEN BRED TO PRODUCE MILK. JESSICA: HE’S CUTTING BACK ON THE NUMBER OF TIMES HIS COWS ARE MILKED, WHICH MEANS FEWER HOURS FOR HIS EMPLOYEES. DAVE: WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE THEM HOLD BY PAYING THEM -- MAKE THEM WHOLE BY PAYING THEM A LITTLE EXTRA TO KEEP THEM HERE. JESSICA: DANIELS, ALSO SELLING OFF SOME OF HIS DAIRY COWS, TO BEEF PROCESSING PLANTS. THEIR COLLARS, LEFT BEHIND. DAVE: WHEN WE WERE LOADING THEM ANIMALS, I WENT AND WROTE A LETTER, A WORD DOCUMENT TO THE CHEESE PROCESSOR AND I SAID, I SAID, THIS IS NOT WHAT A FARMER WANTS TO DO. HE’D MUCH RATHER HAVE HEALTHY ANIMALS, INSTEAD OF HAVE ANIMALS GO ON A TRUCK, SO THAT IS WHAT BOTHERS YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE. ROBB: I ALWAYS THINK OF THIS AS ONE OF THE TOP TWO NOBLE PROFESSIONS YOU CAN HAVE, THE FIRST BEING MILITARY AND BEING ABLE TO DEFEND YOUR COUNTRY, THE IS BEING ABLE TO FEED YOUR SECOND COUNTRY. JESSICA: THAT’S WHY ROBB EWOLDT SAYS HE’LL KEEP PLOWING ON, HOPING HIS CROPS MAKE IT WHERE THEY’RE NEEDED MOST. IN THE MEANTIME, HE SAYS, ANYTIME A HAULING JOB BECOMES AVAILABLE, HE WILL TAKE IT. ROBB: IT WAS A TOUGH DAY WHEN I SAID, HEY, I HAVE TO DO THIS BECAUSE IT KIND OF ADMITS DEFEAT , THAT I AM DRIVING A TRUCK AS A SECOND JOB, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF FARMERS WHO HAVE TAKEN SECOND JOBS AND IT’S WHATEVER YOU CAN DO TO SURVIVE AND WEATHER THE STORM. JESSICA: FARMERS ELIGIBLE FOR THOSE USDA DIRECT PAYMENTS CAN SIGN UP BY THE END OF MAY. SOLEDAD: THAT’S JESSICA GOMEZ FOR US. CRITICS OF THE USDA’S PROGRAM SAY THERE’S NO MONEY SET ASIDE TO PROTECT FARM WORKERS. MANY CAN’T APPLY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT OR GET ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE IF THEY GET SICK.

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Feeding America: Coronavirus’ Impact on Our Farmers, Food Supply

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Updated: 3:43 PM CDT May 1, 2020

As the coronavirus pandemic continues, our nation’s food supply is feeling the strain. Processing plants are shutting down or cutting back and some farmers are being forced to destroy excess product. Meanwhile, Americans across the country are now turning to overwhelmed food banks as their income is cut short. Now, the Department of Agriculture is working on Coronavirus Food Assistance Program to help. Matter of Fact Correspondent Jessica Gomez introduces us to some farmers who say they don’t know how long they’ll be able to get food to your table.

As the coronavirus pandemic continues, our nation’s food supply is feeling the strain. Processing plants are shutting down or cutting back and some farmers are being forced to destroy excess product. Meanwhile, Americans across the country are now turning to overwhelmed food banks as their income is cut short. Now, the Department of Agriculture is working on Coronavirus Food Assistance Program to help. Matter of Fact Correspondent Jessica Gomez introduces us to some farmers who say they don’t know how long they’ll be able to get food to your table.